Members of the European Parliament have approved a new regulation on the deportation of foreigners who have been refused asylum in the EU but cannot be sent back to their home countries. It provides for the creation of centres to hold migrants outside the EU.
418 MEPs voted “in favour,” 218 voted “against,” and 30 abstained, the European Parliament’s press service reported.
It is not yet known where exactly these centres are planned to be set up. In early June, the outlet Politico reported, citing its sources, that options for locating them in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan were under discussion. Rwanda and Uganda were also named among the countries where such centres could appear.
The new regulation, Deutsche Welle writes, also provides for tougher sanctions against those who refuse to leave EU territory despite having no residence permit. In particular, such people are expected to be placed in detention more frequently. In addition, among the measures to combat illegal migration, a reduction or complete termination of benefit payments is being considered.
The new regulation still has to be adopted by the European Council. It is expected that some of the provisions, including those on the centres for holding migrants, will enter into force immediately after the regulation’s official publication, while another part, which requires additional preparation, will apply one year after that.
In 2024, the United Kingdom passed a law allowing illegal migrants to be deported to Rwanda. That same year, Italy ratified an agreement with Albania on the construction of two reception centres for migrants. Both decisions were criticised by human rights advocates, who point out that when migrants are deported to third countries, it will be difficult to monitor respect for human rights.
